General Contractor invoice template
General contracting invoices are progress claims: what the schedule of values said, what percentage is complete, and what is retained. Build one below — prefilled general contractor services, payment terms, PDF download, and a public payment link.
How general contractor invoicing actually works
A general contractor rarely invoices a job — they invoice a stage of a job. The document that matters is the schedule of values agreed at contract signing, and every invoice after that should reference it line for line. Invoicing outside that structure, even when the work is genuine, is the fastest route to a disputed payment application.
Change orders are where margin is won and lost. A change order that is verbally agreed and then invoiced at the end is a change order you will discount. Get it written, priced and signed before the work happens, and give it its own reference on the invoice.
Retainage is a cashflow fact, not a surprise. Show the gross claim, the retention held, and the net due. Owners and lenders expect that structure and invoices that omit it get returned.
What belongs on a general contractor invoice
Beyond the universals — your details, the customer's details, a unique invoice number, dates, totals and payment terms — these are the lines that matter in this trade.
- Schedule-of-values line reference
- Each claim line tied to the contract line it draws against, with percentage complete this period and to date.
- Change orders as numbered, separate lines
- CO number, date approved, and the amount. Never folded into a base contract line.
- Retainage held and released
- Gross, retention, previous payments, net due this application. Show the arithmetic.
- Stored materials, if claimed
- With location and, where required, proof of insurance and title transfer.
- Lien waiver status
- Conditional waiver with the claim, unconditional on payment. Note which is enclosed.
Line items this template starts with
These are the prefilled starting values in the BillingDone general contractor template — a starting point to edit, not a survey of market rates. Set your own prices once and they save for next time.
| Service | Unit | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Project management | Hour | $95.00 |
| Carpentry labor | Hour | $90.00 |
| Crew day | Day | $1,200.00 |
| Framing repair | Project | $750.00 |
| Finish carpentry | Project | $650.00 |
| Change order | Project | $500.00 |
| Demolition | Project | $600.00 |
| Site cleanup | Project | $180.00 |
| Building materials | Each | $250.00 |
| Permit allowance | Each | $150.00 |
| Mobilization fee | Project | $250.00 |
| Disposal fee | Each | $175.00 |
Getting paid as a general contractor
- Submit on the owner's billing cycle, not yours. Missing the monthly cutoff by a day costs a full month of cashflow.
- Never let unapproved change-order work accumulate. Two or three unsigned changes and you are financing someone else's project.
- Track your lien deadlines from first day on site, not from invoice date. In most states the clock does not care when you billed.
Example invoice wording: Completed framing repair, finish carpentry, and job site cleanup for project phase.
General Contractor invoicing questions
What should a general contractor invoice include?
A general contractor invoice should include your business details, the customer's contact information, itemized services, materials or fees, taxes, payment terms, a due date, and a clear total due.
Can general contractors send invoices from a phone?
Yes. BillingDone is designed for fast mobile invoice creation so you can create, send, and collect payment while you are still on site.
Can I save common services?
Yes. Start with the built-in Quick Add Invoice Library, then save custom services, prices, and descriptions for your own repeat work.
What is a schedule of values and why does it belong on the invoice?
It is the breakdown of the contract sum into billable line items, agreed before work starts. Invoicing against it lets the owner verify a claim against something they already approved, which is what keeps progress payments moving.
How should change orders appear on a contractor's invoice?
As numbered lines separate from the base contract, each showing the change-order number and approval date. Absorbing changes into base contract lines makes the whole application harder to approve.
How is retainage shown on a progress invoice?
Show the gross amount earned, less retention at the contract percentage, less previous payments, equals net due this period. Owners and their lenders expect this format and will often reject applications that omit it.
More construction & remodeling templates
Project-based trades that quote scope, stage payments, and invoice against milestones.
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e.g. "Invoice Mike for faucet repair $225 due Friday"Bill to
Items
Adjustments
Recurring schedule
Auto-generate this invoice on a schedule. Perfect for cleaners, lawn care, IT support, retainers.
Payments
Record cash, check, Zelle, Venmo, or any partial payment. The public invoice shows the remaining balance automatically.
Job photos
Before/after photos reduce disputes and look professional on the PDF. 0/8
Summary
- Subtotal
- $0.00
- Tax
- $0.00
- Total due
- $0.00